Laundry flatwork spreader



1968 D. D. MAZZOLLA LAUNDRY FLATWORK SPREADER .5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 17, 1965 INVENTOR. flnlv E Maze/.44

' JTTOR/VEY 1968 D. D. MAZZOLLA LAUNDRY FLATVjbRK SPREADER i 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 17, 1965 INVENTOR.

NOV. 5, 1968 D MAZZQLLA 3,408,756

LAUNDRY FLATWORK SPREADER Filed Aug. 17, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N VEN TOR. am 0. 444220444 United States Ratent C 3,408,756 LAUNDRY FLATWORK SPREADER Dan D. Mazzolla, 2464 Raleigh Drive,

- York, Pa. 17402 Filed Aug. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 480,443 6 Claims. (Cl. 38-143) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A laundry flatwork spreader having cooperating opposing belt and roller means arranged to engage a piece of flatwork to spread it both transversely and longitudL nally for ready feeding to an ironer by means of angularly diverging spreading belts and longitudinal feeding belts, in conjunction with air blast and suction means positioned at different locations on the spreader for application to flatwork pieces while being spread to effect preliminary partial drying thereof.

This invention pertains to a laundry flatwork spreader and, more particularly, to a spreader to be operated in conjunction with an industrial or commercial type flatwork ironer for purposes of facilitating the spreading of pieces of flatwork incident to being fed to such ironer.

Since the advent of industrial or commercial type flatwork ironers which include a number of large rolls which are disposed in concavities in the upper surface of a steam chest relative to which damp, flatwork pieces are moved by said rollers incident to being ironed and dryed, for delivery to the exit end of the ironer for folding, the preparing of flatwork pieces, especially sheets, table cloths and the like, for feeding of the leading end thereof to the entrance of a flatwork ironer has posed many problems. Most of these problems have been solved by the utilization of a substantial number of employees. Present salaries for employees now are such that attention must be given to minimizing the number of employees utilized for operations of this type, considering the fact that the laundry business is of a highly competitive nature.

When laundry, including flatwork pieces, is dumped from a washer, following the last rinsing thereof, it is necessary to extract as much as possible of the rinse water from the laundered items. This generally is done by a centrifugal type extractor empolying a large porous basket which is revolved at high speeds for reducing the remaining water in the laundered items to a minimum. Nevertheless, they are still damp. More importantly however, as far as the present invention is concerned, the pieces usually are extremely twisted and snarled, interlocked, and otherwise presenting problems with regard to untangling the pieces from each other.

Common practice utilized at present in commercial and industrial laundries includes having several employees engaged in pulling pieces of snarled and twisted laundered items from a bulk dumped from the extractor basket onto a table or into a suitable large enclosure capable of being wheeled to the flatwork ironer. As these several employees succeed in pulling piece-s of twisted laundered items form the mass, they are passed to several other employees who find the corners of the piece and then snap the piece while holding the corners to shake it into reasonably straightened condition and then longitudinally fold the piece several times upon itself and lay the folded item upon a long table. Lastly, two more employees engage the leading edge of the folded piece that is uppermost on a stack of folded laundered items on said table and feed the piece to the entrance of a flatwork ironer while stretching the leading edge taut and then continuing to stretch the piece transversely while the side edges slide through the fingers of the employees. As will be seen, a total of six employees are required simply to feed an industrial ironer with flatwork pieces to be ironed thereby.

Several types of preconditioners have been developed for purposes of somewhat spreading or predrying damp flatwork pieces prior to passing the same to a flatwork ironer. Those which have been in limited use usually have required a substantial number of employees to arrange the flatwork pieces on such devices. Further, substantial storage area is required to permit certain of said devices to hold damp flatwork while it is being partially dryed prior to feeding the same to a flatwork ironer and thereby minimizing the heat required by the ironer especially to effect a substantially completely dryed product after flatwork pieces have traversed their intended excursion path through the flatwork ironer. Another objectionable feature of these prior devices has been that they consume a very substantial amount of space and, at present, in industrial laundries, space is always at a premlum.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a flatwork spreader for use particularly with flatwork ironers of an industrial or commercial type, such spreader being of relatively small size and requiring minimum power consumption, said spreader being capable of being supplied with flatwork pieces pulled directly from a pile thereof dumped from an extractor, whereby simply by partially Untangling the flatwork pieces and quickly draping them slightly onto the leading end of the spreader, said spreader automatically spreads the pieces transversely and longitudinally while partially predrying the same and passing them to delivery means where two feeding operators can feed the leading end of the prespread piece directly to the entrance of a flatwork ironer, thereby minimizing the number of employees as compared with those now required for similar operations.

It is another object of the invention to provide a flatwork spreader which is admirably suited to be utilized in conjunction with a flatwork feeding device comprising the subject matter of applicants prior Patent No. 3,145,491, issued Aug. 25, 1964, whereby the speed of feeding flatwork pieces through an industrial ironer is capable of being substantially doubled over the speeds now employed and this is made passible by the higher rates of spreading and feeding flatwork pieces which are achieved by the spreader of the present invention especially when working in conjunction with the feeder of said prior patent, all for purposes of also minimizing the number of employees necessary to be utilized in moving the work from an extractor to the entrance of a flatwork ironer.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a spreader of the type which is readily portable and, even though consuming a minimum amount of floor space when positioned in operative arrangement with respect to the entrance of a flatwork ironer, said spreader readily may be moved aside to permit the feeding of smaller pieces for example, such as pillow cases or garments to industrial ironers of the type referred to which require no substantial spreading operation of the type of which the spreader of the present invention is capable of performing to a high degree of efficiency and satisfaction.

Still another object of the invention is to provide various types of belt feeding and spreading means which are capable of automatically spreading a flatwork piece transversely as well as moving the same forwardly for ultimate delivery to the entrance of a flatwork ironer, the majority of the spreading and feeding occurring after the operator has literally thrown a piece of flatwork onto the spreader while reaching for the next piece in the pile thereof from the extractor so as to pull said piece from the mass and commence t untangle it sufficiently for feeding thereof to the spreader 6f the present invention.

Details of the foregoing objects and of the invention, as well as other objects thereof, are set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprising a part thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view ofa laundry fiatwork spreader embodying the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation taken'from the left-hand end of the spreader shown in FIG. 1 and illustrated on a larger scale than in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation, foreshortened transversely, of the spreader shown in FIGS 1 and 2 and illustrated on a scale similar to that used in FIG. "2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view, showing certain elements horizontally sectioned to illustrate details of one of the spreading belts illustrated in the preceding figures.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of an exemplary drive means for the spreading'belt shown in FIG. 4 as seen on the line 55'of said figure.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical elevation of means for supporting the spreading belt shown in FIG. 4 and illustrating the opposite end thereof from that shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 6 being taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation, partly foreshortened longitudinally of a holding roll and its supporting arm of the type illustrated in FIG. 1, the holding roll per se being longitudinally sectioned to illustrate details.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing exemplary supporting rrie'ans for one course of the feed belt means illustrated iit FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 9 is a somewhat diagrammatic, fragmentary perspective view illustrating the feed belt means shown in FIGS. 1-3 and the manner which it certain of the delivery belt means.

FIGS. 10-12 are progressive stick-type drawings illustrating the progressof an exemplary piece of flatwork beingfspread upon the spreader of the present invention from the time itinitially is introduced to the spreader until the time it is almost completely passed therethrough, especially to illustrate the effectiveness of the feed belt means, the spreading belts an'd. the delivery belt means, and the respective functions thereof. The exemplary flatwork spreader shown in this preferred construction in. the attached drawings comprises a frame 10 which includes a feed end 12, a delivery end 14 and transversely spaced side members 16 and 18. These side mem-bersalso preferably one wall of cab is merged with comprise inet or housing means 20 and 22. .The frame also includes a transverse structural member such as an angle bar 23 which extends between and is connected suitably at its endsto the side members 16 and .18. Lower elongated angle members 24 and 26 also extend between the bottom edges of the. side members '16 and 18 to add strength to the composite frame.

A plurality of casters, 28, best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, preferably are suitably connected to the lower portions of the frame, at the corners thereof, in order to render the spreader readily portable, the casters preferably being of the swivel type. Also, the frame as well as the entire spreader is relatively. light in weight and therefore readily may be moved as indicated between ,an operative position adjacent the entrance of a flatwork ironer, for example, and some-inoperative position away from the ironer when it is desired, for example, to pass either relatively small flatwork pieces such as towels or pillow' cases through the. ironer and spreading capacity of a large sized spreader such as comprises the present invention is not required. I j

A pair of tubular rolls 30 and32, which may be made from suitable pipe stock of appropriate diameter, such as the order of about 3 inchesfextend between bearings of an anti-friction nature which are connected to the side members 16 and 18 for purposes of rotatably supporting said rolls about fixed axes. Preferably, the bearings for roll 30 are capable of adjustment to effect tightening of delivery belt means 34- which extend around said rolls. Said delivery belt means 34 preferably comprises a plurality of web-type belts having limited spaces 35 therebetween as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 9. Said belts preferably are of a frictional nature, such as by having appropriate resin or rubber-like material incorporated therein. However, conventional canvas or fabric belts have been found to be satisfactory.

Referring to FIG. 2 particularly, the principal source of power for the spreader comprises an electric motor 36 which is suitably supported at least partially within the housing 22 as can be seen from FIG. 1 adjacent the righthand side thereof. By means of either a sprocket chain or V-belt 38, the motor 36 is connected to a reducing sprocket or sheave 40, another chain or V-belt 42 connecting the smaller diameter sprocket or sheave of the reducing member 40 to a large diameter sprocket or sheave 44 which is connected to a shaft extending from one end of the roll 32 for purposes of driving the same at a reduced Speed from that of the electric motor 36. From FIG. 2, it also will be seen that the delivery belt means 34 extends downwardly at a rather substantial angle from the delivery end 14 of the frame to a location a short distance inward from the feed end 12 of the frame. Also, from FIG. 1, it will be seen that the drive reducing means described above are located preferably within housing means 22.

Supported in the upper portion of the spreader and extending inwardly from the feed end 12 toward the delivery end 14 is central feed belt means 46. Said means comprises an upper belt 48, preferably of limited width, and lower belt means 50 which preferably comprise a plurality of belts of a limited number, there preferably being four of the same as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

To sup ort the upper belt 48, which is of relatively limited width, such as of the order of approximately 4 inches, without restriction thereto, a relatively large diametered pulley or drum 52 is rotatably supported by bearings mounted at the forward end of a cantilever-type frame 54. The forward end of said frame is free to move vertically, while the rearward end is pivoted or fulcrumed upon the vertical flange of transverse angle bar 23 as can be-readily seen in FIG. 2. Said frame is at least fragmentarily illustrated in larger scale in FIG. 8 and thereon it will be seen that the frame also includes a belt guide 56 which prevents any migration of the belt 48 in axial direction.

From FIG. 2 particularly, it will be seen that the upper belt 48 and lower belt means 50 have courses thereof which move adjacent each other in the same direction, namely, toward the delivery end 14 of the spreader. The rearward end of the belt 48 extends around and is supported by a finger roll 58 which, in its preferred construction is a polished aluminum tube of about 3 inches diameter, for example. The finger roll 58 is supported at its opposite ends by appropriate bearings in side members 16 and 18 and rests frictionally upon the upper surfaces of the upper courses of the delivery belt means 34 so as to be frictionally driven by said belt means and, in turn, drive the upper belt 48 of feed belt means 46. As can be seen from FIG. 2 also, the bearings 60 which support the finger roll 58 are mounted for limited adjustment to vary the frictional engagement of said roll with the delivery belt means 34 as well as tension the upper feed belt 48.

The lower belt means 50 of central feed belt means 46 extends at the forward end thereof about a short roll 62 around which all four of the lower belts 50 extend in spaced relationship as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 9. The roll 62 is supported by appropriate bearings fixed to a frame 64 rigidly supported adjacent the feed end 12 of the spreader. The lower courses of the belts 50 extend downwardly around the lower roll 32 for the delivery belt means 34 and then upwardly around the upper roll 30 therefor, thence inwardly and downwardly, passing under finger roll 58 and thence over the short roll 62. Functionally, the upper courses of the belt means 50 which extend between finger roll 58 and upper roll 30 additionally function as part of the delivery belt means 34 since it will be seen from FIG. 9 in particular that there is a gap in the various delivery belt means 34 where they extend around the lower roll 32, this gap being occupied by the four belts 50 of the central feed belt means 46.

Another important feature of the present invention comprises spreading belts 66 which are relatively narrow and of an endless nature. In plan view such as shOWn in FIG. 1, it will be seen that these belts extend at a very substantial obtuse angle to each other and, similarly, at a very acute angle with respect to the front face of the feed end 12 of the spreader. If desired, the belts 66 may be of the same type of material as the belts 34 and also of a similar width. As illustrated, these belts extend around idler pulleys 68 which are supported by suitable brackets 70 which are fixedly connected to the frame as well shown in FIG. 2. The opposite ends of belts 66 are supported by appropriate brackets 72 which respectively are connected to the side members 16 and 18, said brackets rotatably supporting drive pulleys 74. The brackets 70 which support idler pulleys 68 preferably are connected to the frame 10 in such manner that they are horizontally adjustable, such as by suitable slotted means, as illustrated in FIG. 4, for purposes of varying the tension of the belts 66.

As illustrated, the drive pulleys 74 are connected by twisted belts 76 to individual additional electric motors 78 but it is to be understood that, if preferred, the motors 78 may be eliminated and, through appropriate guide pulleys and the like, the same may be driven by appropriate sheaves or sprocket gears fixed to the opposite ends of the lower drive roll 32.

From FIG. 1, it will be seen that the inner, forward ends of the spreading belts 66 are disposed adjacent the op posite sides of the lower belt means 50 of central feed belt means 46 and, from FIG. 2, it will be seen that the upper courses of said ends of the spreading belts 66 are disposed only slightly below the level of the forward end of the upper course of the lower belts 50. In actual practice, the vertical position of the forward ends of the spreading belts is higher than the level shown in FIG. 2 but for purposes of clarity, said ends are illustrated below their actual position so as not to interfere with the illustration of the roll 62. Preferably, the forward ends of the spreading belts 66 should be substantially within the same plane as the forward end of the upper course of the lower belt 50.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, it will also be seen that there is a forward guide bar 80 connected at its ends to the bracket 64 and projecting a limited distance forwardly for several purposes. One is to guard against an operator accidentally contacting the forward portions of the central feed belt means 46. An equally important function however is to provide means upon which an operator may more or less cast or slightly drape a partially untangled piece of flatwork and thereby insure delivery thereof to the feed belt means 46, between the adjacent courses of the upper belt 48 and lower belt means 50, as well as the same being engaged by the upper courses of the spreading belts 66. Particularly in view of the wide angle between the belts 66 in plan view, and in order that the forward feeding of the flatwork piece may occur simultaneously with transversely spreading the same, it is apparent that the speed at which the belts 66 are driven should be such that the surface speed thereof is substantially greater than that of the surface speed of the adjacent courses of the feed belt means 46 and the drive means for the belts 66 therefor are appropriately arranged to provide such increased surface speed for said belts.

To insure that adequate frictional engagement will occur between the upper surfaces of the spreading belts 66 and flatwork pieces being transversely spread thereby, the invention also includes holding rolls 82 which are supported at the outer ends of arms 84, the other ends of the latter being fixedly clamped to the angle bar 23 by brackets 86. The arms 84 may be made from suitable pipe or bar stock of such size that reasonable flexibility is permitted but the shape of the arms is such that they tend to hold the rolls 82 in relatively firm frictional engagement with the upper surfaces of the belts 66. Preferably, the rolls 82 are supported by antifriction bearings 88, details of which are best shown in FIG. 7. The outer surface of the rolls 82 may be formed from a suitable synthetic resin or appropriate gelatin-like material, rubber-like means or the like for purposes of insuring frictional engagement wit-h the flatwork which is being spread by the belts 66.

From FIG. 1, it will be seen that as the flatwork pieces are being fed from the forward end of the spreader to the delivery end 14 thereof, and are being spread transversely by the belts 66, all of which is occurring adjacent the feed end of the spreader and at a level substantially above the lower end of the delivery belt means 34, there is preferably need to provide supporting means in the space above the inner end portions of the delivery belt means 34. Such support means is provided in the form of supporting members which, in the preferred construction thereof, are actually hollow chambers of limited vertical dimension as can be seen from the fragmentary phantom-like illustration thereof in FIG. 3. The upper, substantially horizontal surfaces of these supporting chambers 90 are provided with a plurality of air-discharge holes 92 through which air, under pressure,,is discharged by means to be described, for purposes of providing at least a certain amount of predrying of the damp flatwork pieces.

To furnish the chamber-like supporting members 90 with air under pressure for discharge through the holes 92, the spreader includes an appropriate blower unit 94 mounted preferably in the lower portion of the frame such as below the delivery belt means 34. The discharge end 96 of the blower unit 94 is connected by an appropriate conduit 98 to an inlet port 100 in the lower wall of the chamber of supporting members 90 on the left of feed belt means 46 as shown in FIG. 1, while an extension 102 of conduit 98 communicates with inlet port 104 of the supporting member 90 at the right-hand side of feed belt means 46 as viewed in FIG. 1.

The capacity of the blower unit 94 preferably is such that a substantial amount of air'is blown from the numerous outlet holes 92 against the flatwork pieces as they slide over the support members 90 and thereby sustain a limited amount of predrying, serving to minimize the drying burden imposed upon the flatwork ironer to which the spread and partially predryed flatwork pieces ultimately are delivered.

The predrying effect initiated by the supporting members 90 also is further enhanced by providing a suction conduit 106 which extends substantially horizontally along the upper portion of the frame adjacent and parallel to the upper roll 30, said conduit preferably being between the upper and lower courses of the delivery belt means 34. Such conduit is provided with a plurality of inlet ports 108 which preferably are located between the belts 34, so as to coincide with the spaces 35 therebetween and permit inlet of air, by suction, into the conduit 106'.

Suction is created within the conduit 106 by connecting one end thereof with an intake pipe 110 extending upward thereto from the inlet 112 of the blower unit 94. Thus, the blower unit 94 is utilized for dual capacity of providing the air under pressure which is discharged from the supporting members 90, and also developing the suction for conduit 106. Such suction which enters the conduit through the inlet ports 108 draws air through the flatwork pieces as they move directly above the inlet ports 108 and thus tend to draw the flatwork pieces into firm, frictional engagement with the upper courses of the delivery belt means 34. Such suction also incidentally draws air through said flatwork pieces and thereby further facilitates the predrying thereof initially effected by the air discharged through the supporting members 90, as well as remove lint from the pieces.

Referring to FIGS. 10-1 1, an exemplary and diagrammatic illustration is afforded of the essential operations of the flatwork spreader comprising the present invention. Referring to FIG. 10 particularly, it will be seen that a partially untangled flatwork piece 114 is delivered intermediately of the ends thereof to the feed end 12 of the spreader and is engaged between the adjacent courses of the feed belt means 46. Simultaneously, movement of the flatwork piece in the direction of the arrow substantially immediately causes the piece to be engaged by the spreading belts 66 which move the side edges of the flatwork piece transversely in opposite directions, the partially spread piece 114, as viewed in FIG. 11, now having been engaged by the holding rolls 82 so as to insure firmer frictional engagement of the opposite side edge portions of the fiatwork piece by the spreading belts 66.

Referring now to FIG. 12, incident to such procedural description, it will be seen that inasmuch as the upper belt 48 of the feed belt means 46 extends around the fiinger roll 58 and especially since the finger roll 58 engages the upper course of the delivery belt means 34, coupled with the further fact that the lower belt means 50 of the feed lbelt means 46 actually comprise part of the delivery belt means 34, results in the leading edge of the transversely spread fiatwork piece immediately being engaged by the delivery belt means 34 as soon as it emerges from between the upper and lower belts of feed belt means 46. The suction imparted by conduit 106 upon the flatwork pieces insures adequate frictional engagement of the fiatwork piece by the belt means 34 so as to positively move the now transversely and longitudinally spread flatwork piece, which is also partially predried, onto suitable receiving means such as a tablelike shelf 116 or any other appropriate receiving means. From the receiving means 116, the completely untangled and transversely spread fiatwork piece easily is engaged by a pair of operators who can directly feed the same to the entrance of a flatwork ironer, either through the employment of the feed mechanism comprising the subject matter of applicants prior Patent No. 3,145,391, or without the same.

It will be seen from the foreging that the fiatwork spreader comprising the present invention is operable to transversely and longitudinally spread as well as partially predry damp fiatwork pieces after the same have only been partially untangled by an operator and are flung or otherwise draped over initial receiving means at the feed end of the spreader which immediately commence to feed the flatwork piece inwardly and spread the same transversely toward opposite sides of the spreader. A single operator is capable of keeping the spreader at full capacity operation by pulling tangled flatwork pieces from a pile as dumped from the extractor and only partially untangle the same to feed the same to the spreader which then automatically completes the spreading in a highly satisfactory manner and also partially predries the same in condition to be readily grasped by several feeding operators for a flatwork ironer. This spreader consumes relatively little floor space and is capable of easily being removed from in front of the flatwork ironer when there is no need for the spreader.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in its several preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and described since the same may be carried out in other ways falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. Afiatwork spreader arranged for use with a fiatwork ironer to spread damp fiatwork pieces as received from an extractor to facilitate the feed thereof to such ironer and comprising in combination a frame having feed and delivery ends extending between spaced sides, feed belt means supported substantially centrally of said frame and comprising upper and lower belts having adjacent courses to engage fiatwork pieces therebetween, means to drive said feed belt means to move said pieces rearwardly from adjacent the feed end of said frame toward said delivery end, spreading belts extending from adjacent opposite sides of said feed belt means diagonally in opposite directions rearwardly and laterally outward toward said spaced sides of said frame from the forward feed end thereof, means to drive said belts to move the upper courses thereof in diagonally rearwardly and laterally outward directions to spread opposite edges of flatwork pieces transversely apart while said feed belt means moves the central portion of the flatwork pieces 'rearwardly toward said delivery end of said frame, a plurality of holding rolls respectively supported for rotation about axes respectively substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the upper courses of said spreading ibelts intermediately between the ends thereof and substantially parallel to said upper courses for free rotation about said axes and frictional engagement with said belts and flatwork pieces supported and spreadably moved thereby, and means to receive spread flatwork pieces at the delivery end of said frame.

2. The flatwork spreader according to claim 1 further including flexible arms supported adjacent one end by said frame and the opposite ends respectively supporting said holding rolls for free rotation relative to said arms.

3. A fiatwork spreader arranged for use to spread and partially predry damp fiatwork pieces prior to feeding the same to a flatwork ironer, said spreader comprising a frame having transversely spaced side members and the opposite ends respectively comprising a feed end and a delivery end, a roll extending between the side members adjacent and parallel to said delivery end, another roll extending between said side members intermediately of said ends of said frame, delivery belt means extending between and around said rolls, drive means connected to one of said rolls and operable to rotate the same in a direction to move the upper course of said belt means toward said delivery end of said frame, central feed belt means narrower than said delivery belt 'means supported intermediately of the side members at a level generally above the delivery belt means and comprising upper and lower belts having adjacent parallel courses movable in the same direction as said upper course of said delivery belt means, means to drive said feed belt means to discharge pieces fed between said upper and lower belts onto said delivery belt means, a pair of spreading belt means extending substantially at equal angles outwardly toward the opposite side members of said frame from opposite sides of said feed belt means and rearwardly toward said delivery end of said frame, means to drive the upper courses of said spreading belt means in diagonal rearward and laterally outward directions to engage flatwork pieces and spread the opposite edges thereof transversely in opposite directions and also move them rearwardly while the center portion of the flatwork piece is being moved rearwardly by said feed belt means for discharge onto said delivery ibelt means, and planar means positioned rearwardly of said spreading belt means adjacent opposite sides of said central feed belt means and substantially parallel to the planes of the belts thereof and provided with a series of air discharge openings spaced throughout the surfaces thereof and means to deliver air under pressure thereto to direct air under pressure upwardly toward said flatwork pieces as moved and spread by said feed and spreading belt means to partially predry the same.

4. The flatwork spreader according to claim 3 in which said means to deliver air under pressure comprises a blower and means to connect the discharge thereof to said air discharge means, said spreader also including suction means extending beneath said delivery belt means and having air inlet openings therealong, and means connecting said suction means to the inlet of said blower to effect suction and thereby further predry flatwork pieces as moved by said delivery belt means.

5. The flatwork spreader according to claim 3 in which said air discharge members are the upper walls of air chambers and are provided with said air discharge openings therein and said upper walls of said chambers being disposed within a plane at a level relative to said spreading belt means to serve as means to slidably support said fiatwork pieces while being spread by said spreading belt means.

6. The flatwork spreader according to claim 5 further including a blower having an inlet and outlet means, means connecting the outlet means of said blower to said air chambers to direct drying air under pressure thereto for discharge to said flatwork pieces, a suction tube beneath said delivery belt means and having air inlet openings therein, and means connecting the inlet means of said blower to said suction table to draw air thereinto through said air inlet openings therein and thereby draw air through fiatwor k pieces being moved by said delivery belt means to cause the same to adhere to said belt means for movement to the delivery end of frame.

References Cited JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

20 G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner. 

